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Academic Integrity in Social Work

What is Academic Integrity?

"Academic integrity is the moral code or ethical policy of academia. This includes values such as avoidance of cheating or plagiarism; maintenance of academic standards; honesty and rigor in research and academic publishing." 1.

The NASW Code of Ethics covers academic integrity in several of its sections

4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud, and Deception
4.06 Misprepresentation
4.08 Acknowledging Credita.) Social workers should take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed and to which they have contributed.
b.) Social workers should honestly acknowledge the work of and the contributions made by others.

Section 6 of this statement, developed by the Council on Social Work Education in 2006 states:"Social work researchers must never fabricate data or publish data that are known to be fabricated or otherwise compromised in nature or engage in plagiarism. All ideas and phrasing not originating with the author or co-author should be appropriately acknowledged in publication or results."

At least 3 of the current Core Competencies which state the results both students and employers can expect from an accredited social work education program outline values and ethical behavior expectations related to research practice.

2.1.1 Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
2.1.2 Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
2.1.6 Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research

Section 8.11 of the APA Code of Ethics states:"Psychologists do not present portions of another's work or data as their own, even if the other work or data source is cited occasionally."

Academic Integrity

Why Should I Care About Academic Integrity?

Besides these expectations from professional organizations, why should you care about completing your work at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in an honest manner? One of the reasons is because you may be faced with some of the following sanctions.

You could be suspended, with or without conditions.

You could fail your assignment.

You could fail your course.

You could receive a notation in either your unofficial or official transcript.

You could be permanently expelled from school.

Your degree could be withheld or revoked.

Lack of academic integrity or unwittingly plagiarizing during your academic career can also catch up with you long after you leave this MSW program.

Senator John Walsh, Democrat from Montana and appointed to replace Senator Max Baucus early in 2014, decided not to run for this seat in the next election due to a scandal showing he plagiarized the 2007 paper he submitted for his Master's degree from the U.S. Army War College, according to a New York Times article. As a result of this plagiarism incident, Walsh's political career is likely over.